📅 Updated: August 2025
Starting from the end of 2025, citizens of Moldova 🇲🇩 and Ukraine 🇺🇦 traveling to Europe visa-free will be required to obtain an electronic travel authorization in advance — ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System).
This decision was made by the European Union as part of enhanced security and control measures at the external borders of the Schengen Area.
📌 What is ETIAS?
ETIAS is not a visa, but a mandatory electronic authorization for short-term trips (up to 90 days within a 180-day period) to 30 European countries, including:
Poland 🇵🇱
Czech Republic 🇨🇿
Germany 🇩🇪
Italy 🇮🇹
Lithuania 🇱🇹
Latvia 🇱🇻
Estonia 🇪🇪
France 🇫🇷
Spain 🇪🇸
Hungary 🇭🇺
and other Schengen countries.
👥 Who does it concern?
The new system will affect all citizens of visa-exempt countries, including:
✅ Citizens of Moldova with biometric passports
✅ Citizens of Ukraine with biometric passports
✅ Also: Georgia, Albania, Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Chile, and others.
⚠️ Even if you have a biometric passport, from the end of 2025, entry into the EU without ETIAS will not be possible.
🔍 How does ETIAS work?
Submit an online application via the official website:
https://travel-europe.europa.eu/etias
Data is checked through EU security systems (SIS, Europol, Interpol, etc.)
You receive an electronic authorization that is automatically linked to your passport.
Nothing is physically added to the passport — everything is digital.
📋 Key details:
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| When it is introduced | ⏳ End of 2025 (expected Q4) |
| Cost | 💶 7 euros (free for children under 18 and seniors over 70) |
| Validity | 🗓️ 3 years or until passport expiration |
| Processing time | ⏱️ From a few minutes up to 4 days |
| Where to apply | 🌐 Online only: official ETIAS website |
| Required documents | 📘 Biometric passport + application form |
| Purposes of travel | 🧳 Tourism, transit, visits, business trips up to 90 days |
🛑 What happens if you don’t get ETIAS?
You may be denied boarding on a bus, train, or plane without a valid authorization.
EU border officials will check the presence of ETIAS in their system.
Even if you have a ticket and passport, entry will be refused without ETIAS.
🧭 How to prepare?
Make sure your passport is biometric and valid.
Monitor the official launch date of the system (expected October–December 2025).
Once registration opens, complete the application early.
If needed, we can remind you or help with the application.
🔗 Official sources:
